Water gauge



Feb. 12, 1929. 1,701,914

G. ERNST WATER GAUGE Filed April 9, 1925 INVENTQR Patented Feb.A 12,1929.

einen y l GEORGE ERNST, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

WATER GAUGE.

Application filed April 9, 1925. Serial No. 21,791.

rlhis invention relates to boiler gauges and more particularly todevices of that character which are adapted to indicate the water levelin the boiler.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide a water level gaugecomprising novel means for controlling the flow of condensate within thegauge and whereby the erosion of the gauge glass is wholly eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide means whereby the waterlevel in the gauge glass can be most readily ascertainec., said meanstaking the form generally of a coloring liquid and a reservoir to supplythe same as desired.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a water level gaugecomprising novel guard means for the gauge glass arranged to aiiord themaximum protection v`to both the glass and to the operator, said guardmeans being arranged preferably to embody a length adjusting feature.

lith the foregoing'and other objects in view the invention consists inthe arrangement and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed andclaimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact detailsof construction disclosed or suggestedhcrein, still for the purpose ofillustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is `had to the ace`companying drawings in which like reference characters designate thesame parts in the several views, and in which- Y Figure l is aside viewshowing a typical use of the invention. f

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the main part of theimprovement.

Fig. 3 is a front view of a portion of the arrangement shown in'Fig. l.

Fig. 4l is a sectiontalren on'the Fig. 2.

une 4.-4 of Referring now more particularly 4to the` drawings, I showthe vwater level gauge as mounted in connection with a fluid containeror water column l0,as by means ofthe valves ll'which are attached tosaid water column through the nipples 12; Said valves are operative bymeans ofthe stems 13 which carry the and lower bodies arranged toreceive the ends of the glass and to make the same steam tight by meansof the resilient packing ring 2i. Each of said bodies is provided withan annular shoulder 22 against which said ring is compressed as by meansof a gland 23 and a novel nut member 24 so that the ring will embracethe gauge glass snugly. Means for depositing condensate or other liquidcentrally of the gauge glass and at a point spaced from the upper endthereof is provided, said means taking the form preferably of a tubulardrip or centralizing tube 25 which is coaxial with the. Vgauge glass andthe discharge end whereof has a curved portion 26 the tip of which liesalong the axis of the glass to insure that the condensate will bedischarged cen` trally of the glass and remotely from the sides thereof.j

lt will be noted that the effect of condensate in striking glassat theinstant when the condensation takes place is to erode the glass.However, by arranging for a discharge of the condensate within the glassand remotely from the end thereof, l find that such erosion iscompletely eliminated. And to"l Iguard against the possibility of any ofthe liquid striking the glass, I cause said liquid to bedischargedanially of the gauge glass in a manner above described. rlhusthe'tipaof the tube being spaced more remotely from the wall of theglass, the possibility of condensate splashing upon the wall of theglass is eliminated. Generally, the tip of the centralizing tube will beso arranged, whether used in the vertical or in the inclined' gauge asto provide for the maximum and most ef.- fective protection of the gaugeglass.

Said tube is mounted in a suitable manner in the upper body or head tocommunicate with the inlet or nipple 18 and preferably by means of acentral plug 27 which is threaded into the upper end of the head at 28and has suitable cri-operation therewith as by means of a gasket 29 formaking therewith. Said plug comprises a shank or body portion 30 whichis smaller than the internal size of the headto p rovid can annularclearance. Said shank portion is provided with an axial bore 3l withwhich said tube registers at 32, said bore communicating with saidannular clearance by. means of one or fluid tight joint Y 'was moretransverse holes Said shank is Varranged toterminate preferably in acylindrical flange 84E which lits within the shoulderQQ and 1s adaptedto bear upon the packrngrmg 21 to effect a tight connection4 andprovideagainst any condensate Corning in contact with Vthe extreme edgeof the glass., y In. asV sembhng the device, the plug 2'? will be 1n-'serted into the Vhead and madeufp tight, and? then the nut or cap 2liapplied and tightened.

In order to permit of an easier observation of the level of the Waterinthe gauge glass, I 'place' by any'suitable means ormethod a f coloringmatter in the glass, which islighter than Water so as to be'adapted toiioat; upon f the surface thereof and indicateV more Clearly the preciselevel thereof. Preferably7 I. use

`anoil rfor this purpose, and lprovide' novel means for introducingthe-same intojthe glass.

Said means in the form shown takes the form of' a reservoir 36 which isarranged'to dischargeV oil or other liquid into the glass 'through thetube and' Jfor this purpose hasV communication Withthe aXia-l'bore 31 asbyv meansvo a stein 37 Within which a` valve 38 is v-itted to control`the flow oli' said liquid. Thus after thegauge is blownrout, the v.ialveis opened, and ateiv" drops' otcoloring liquid j axis of the glass t0protect thesameffromany In order to render the length of theguardV iscop-ieally engage the other als by means of' Vthe edge flanges 45j Bothparts of Vthe guard are effectively retained uiithin'tlie flanges 42 asby being sprung thereunto', `said gua-rd be'.- y ing constructed forthis purposerof relativelyM permitted to liowV into the glass.V4 Thereservoir is topped by plug 39 'which co-operates with a gasket 4:0 toelectivelyclose the reser` voir at such times and prevent leakage vunderthehigh pressure then eXistingWthin the resQIfYOrr While the valve isopen'. Y

Novel' guard means l1 isxprovided to protectthe glass, which isrotatableabout Vthe angleas may be desired, or the 'operator` from the eilfectsof a possible breakage of thev glass'y and. sudden Vleakage of .steam-`thereirtnn.V

Said' guard means co-operates for .thi/spur-v pose y ith both the upperand` lower heads 20, as Within"cylindrical flanges V42- thereof, andwherein said guard 1' is` rotatably retained as shown by'dot-dash linesin Fig. 4." A cardll is'rnountedwithin said guard, vvl-rereby'the levelof thewvater may be read more; easily.

adjustable .to the particular gauge usedf and :to permit oitfeasy`detachment thereof Vfrom the gauge, IV con struct the same of aplurality Vo1'.`pa.r/ts,'one ot xvhi'cli'rl-l4 is arranged toV telethin.materia-l. i

'y Believing itto benevv'vvith me to insert into asight glass a liquidor other substance having a colorcontrastingwith the boilerwater inforderte render .more positive the readings of the glass,I vvishlrto`point out that as gauge .glasses` are nonT commonly Vmade and used YVwhen; they become completely filledvwith boil- -be a rare casel erwater there exists always the uncertaiirc-y'Y of not; knowing `readilyor' easily Whether the gauge glass is full or empty, and so this is aconstant source ot danger in steam boiler practice'. y By. use of thisimprovement therefore and theintroduction of a colored liquid orcoloring matter into the glass so that either the meniscus or some otthe body olf the liquid mz the tubcfifs/colored, the aforesaiduncerever, alll the liquid in the tube. is colored in the normalpractice it -vvill always show color or such a: contract with theboilerfwater as to insure correct reading'.v My improvement,furthermore, provides for the easy replenish'ing of the color after theused'coloring matter has blown out in theusual practice.` YThe liquidemployed by me as a Convey-er for the Acoloring matter bein in oil',lmay tend soY to loosenthe coating that ordinarily accuinulates on theinnervv surface ofthe glass tube,

andV so the riseand fall of the `color medium 35 in the glassduel-totheiiuctuations or changes in level of the Water lin the boilerserve to keep rthe sight glass: perfectly clean, andconsequentlythereadingsct jtlicglzlss. iter thisreason are very muchmore reliable and accurate than ifs'uch accumulation orcoat` ing wouldremain undisturbed.

Iclalm': Y i' 1. In a gauge including a glassand;anupper head, a :plugserv-ing as a closure for the topof sa1dhead',apartof saidplugproJecting zlntoisaid head, said part being spaced tromtlie innersurface of the head,there being central Aand'transversepassages.in-Lsaid plugi'or establishing Ycommunication betweenthe in=l teriorofsaid head andthe glass of the gauge, a liquidconveying-jmeniberV extending from said pluginto, said l'glass andcommunicating with the central passage o'tfthe plugga' liquidreceptacle` disposed above Vand connected?withI said plug, there being apassage between lsaid receptacle vand the central passage 'of' saidplug,;a valve for closingfthe last mentioned Y passage, a gland insaid-head, and packing .for I forming a tight connectionbetween'saidhead and said p gland, said plug Vhaving a y flangeIabutting said packing to form a tight.connec-v tion and preventcommunicationbetvveen said plug and said glass except through saidvliquid conveying member. i

v2; In a gauge including a glass and upf per hollow head,y a plugassociated With and f serving asa closure for the top of said head andhaving a portion thereofdisposed Within ysaid.' head, the part of theplug disposed Within said head being spaced from the latters innersurface, central and transverse passages being provided in said plug forestablishing coinn'iunication between the hollow part of said head andthe glass oi' said gauge, a liquid conveying member' associated with andextending from the bottom oi said plug and forming a continuation of itscentral passage,

said member projecting into said glass and provided with a liquid dripcentralizing end, and a smaller longitudinally apertured Vplug in theupper end of said central passage, said plug carrying a color-liquidcontainer adapted to discharge into the central passage ot' thefirst-mentioned plug through the aperture of said smaller plug, therebeing a valve on the smaller plug cont-rolling such discharge, and

means for making the glass tight in the head including a gland andpacking therefor, said iirst mentioned plug having a llange abuttingsaid packing to prevent communication between said head and said glassexcept through said plug and the liquid conveying member.

3. ln a gauge including a glass and an upper hollow head, a plugassociated with and serving as a closure :tor the top of said head andhaving a portion thereof disposed Within said head, the part ot the plugdisposed Within said head being spaced from the latters inner surface,central and transverse passages being provided in said plug forestablishing com -mnnication between the holloiv part of said liquidconveying member being disposed centrally within the glass of saidgauge, the liquid drip centralizing end of said member constituting asharp tip, the extreme point of which is disposed substantiallyequidistant it'rom all wall portions of said glass at the level of saidpoint, said point being substantially in the center line of said member.

ln a gauge including a glass and an upper hollow head, a nipple forminga Water and steam inlet to thel interior oit' the head, a plug sealed insaid head and annularly spaced therefrom, the plug having a sleeve-formed on the bottom thereofand a radial passage and an axial passageintercommunicating, a colorliquid tube secured in the plug and having abore connecting with the axial passage, said tube extending doivn toterminate in a drip point Within the glass in substantially the centerline thereof, and means for centering the tube and the glass andsimultaneously steam packing the upper end of the glass and the lowerends of the head andplug including a packing recess in the head belowthe plug, packing in said recess, the sleeve on the bottom oi theplugengaging the upper side of said packing, a bottom nut sleeving theglass and having a recess in its upper part, a loose collar in thelast-mentioned recess and at its top engaging the bottom of saidpacking, said bottom nut beingsecured to said head and exe 'tingpressure on said collar.

ln a gauge of the characterdescribed, the combination with a glass andan upper head therefor, oi means in said head to guide a predeterminedamount of a coloring liquid centrally into said glass, and means to packthe glass in said head, said iirstmentioned means having coaction withsaid packing means at the adjacent end of the glass to preventcommunicaticn between the head and the glass except through said firstmentioned means.

ln testimony Whereoil l aiiix my signature.

GEORGE ERNST.

